Ashen Dragon

"As the Imperial Marshal, I can certainly distinguish the priorities, dear 'Lord' Ramp," said Dolores with a slight nod, though his emphasis on the last two words suggested a hint of sarcasm.

He watched the still fiercely tense battle with anxiety, murmuring, "But now, the number of demons is simply too many.

Bullets and shells are being flung about as if they cost nothing, and the war's consumption has far exceeded our plans."

Lifting his head, he coldly gazed at Ramp's ugly visage, "Ramp, if we continue this deadlock...

in less than ten days, we will face a shortage of supplies.

In less than half a month, it's very possible that the demons will break through your pride, Imperial's Wall, and invade the core regions of the Empire."

Ramp also observed the magic influence on various parts of the battlefield. Coward Demons kept rushing toward the defensive line in waves, Demon Hunting Spiders scuttled across the ground, and Giant Bull Demons took heavy steps forward.

In the sky, Kwase Demons, Frosthorn Demons, and Abyssal Drakes flew chaotically, while swarms of Demon Bees spread out like smog.

Compared to a few days ago, the Empire's firepower had considerably weakened and could no longer achieve the effect of "cannon sweeping the land."

They could only rely on the flesh and blood of Steam Tanks and Imperial Soldiers to halt the advance of demons.

Fortunately, the number of players in the Ashen Empire had also significantly increased. Three million players with unlimited respawns were no less formidable than the seemingly endless Demon Legion.

After much contemplation, Ramp's lips curled into a chilly smile, "You're right.

The Ogre Archmage raised his Magic Wand, and numerous orbs of light encircled him, representing the forms of Red Scale Conquerors, Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights, and many other Retainers — symbols of the Empire's vital forces.

"Perhaps... the true counterattack should begin now. I believe His Majesty is also anticipating this moment."

"Boom!"

Lonely as Snow raised his Giant Shield to block a fireball plummeting from the sky, protecting several Mage comrades behind him.

Black-red sparks still splattered onto his face, and the wicked flames left black burns, causing considerable damage — but he no longer had the time to care about it.

"Aooo—"

Coward Demons and Bab Demons shrieked shrilly, madly surging toward the players' position, pouncing onto Lonely as Snow.

"Damn it, will this ever end!"

"Bang!"

Lonely as Snow forcefully swung his Giant Shield, then abruptly slammed it into the ground, turning more than a dozen demons into pancakes in a clean and efficient manner.

A Bab Demon behind him picked up a sharp Spear, its gaunt red face grinning viciously. It raised the Spear, intending to backstab the human in front of it.

But the Paladin didn't even spare a glance, casually lifting the Bab Demon like a little chick and then harshly smashing it to the ground, crushing it underfoot.

However, the number of these Low-tier Demons was increasing. Hundreds of demons from all directions surrounded him, almost drowning him.

"Hurry up, I can't hold on much longer!"

Even in the intense melee, Lonely as Snow couldn't help but complain, "These damn things are everywhere, killing them barely gives any Experience..."

Charlotte hovered mid-air, clutching her Magic Wand, and recited the Spell Incantation.

"Lightning Chain!"

Almost instantly, accompanied by a hissing sound, bright arcs of lightning leapt among the swarm of demons, turning all the Coward Demons in its path to scorched carcasses.

The demons wailed in agony, black smoke rising from them, falling in droves, and the hundreds of demons in front of them were wiped out in an instant.

Lonely as Snow, also scorched, climbed out from the pile of demon corpses and pointed at a dark figure in the distance, shouting, "Quick, take out that goat-headed Monster!"

"That thing has been casting spells and summoning minions non-stop, it's disgusting!"

"I'll do it!"

The Sky Flying Witch stepped forward, and in the expectant gazes of everyone around, released a beautiful rainbow.

"Whoosh—"

The rainbow swept across the sky, breathtakingly beautiful, but that was all.

"..."

Everyone fell silent.

The so-called "goat-headed Monster" in the distance roared.

Its skin was as pale as a corpse's, its fur coarse and black, and its hooves were the bloody red of Purgatory — it was actually a Bloodhoof Demon, a Monster created by the Undying King, Orcus.

The Bloodhoof Demon waved its Scepter adorned with Skulls, and suddenly, a toxic smoke spread across the battlefield, with dead demons rising from the ground once again.

"Be careful! It's Death Cloud Spell!"

Charlotte raised her Magic Wand, summoning gusts of wind, dispersing the poisonous smoke.

The Sky Flying Witch also finally avoided triggering Wild Magic Surge, instead releasing scorching Fireballs, blowing the resurrected demons to cinders.

While the vice president of the Magic Coin—Bright Moon aimed her magic wand at the distant Blood Hoof Demon, she quickly recited a spell incantation.

"Lightning Bolt!"

"Boom!"

A blinding lightning bolt shot from the end of the wand, penetrating the Blood Hoof Demon. The goat-headed monster convulsed a few times on the ground before becoming motionless.

Lonely as Snow kicked the demon corpse at his feet and muttered softly, "Is this ever going to end..."

He had been fighting the demons at the front lines for several days now. Despite the massive experience and contribution points rolling in every day, this sort of battle had already led to a sense of aesthetic fatigue.

Suddenly, a huge shadow descended from the sky.

"Watch out!"

His teammate urgently warned.

Lonely as Snow instinctively dodged, as the spear-like giant leg fiercely stabbed down, embedding deeply into the rock.

Lonely as Snow looked up to first see four pairs of slender legs, then a multitude of dense, flickering eyes shining with a ghostly light.

"Son of a..."

A grey ray flashed by, and Lonely as Snow was struck directly, turning into a still stone sculpture.

Charlotte shouted anxiously, "Get out of the way! It's a Demon Hunting Spider!"

"Don't let its magic ray hit you!"

After several days of fighting, the players had gained a good understanding of these demons and had made clear divisions regarding their levels of danger.

And the Demon Hunting Spider was clearly categorized as one of the most dangerous. Without the support of Steam Tanks, Dragon Scale Cultivators, and others, it would be very difficult to escape from these spider monsters' clutches.

The gigantic spider monster charged at the mages, and without hesitation, Charlotte raised her wand, its tip's demon crystal flickering with a pale red aurora.

[Monster Immobilization Spell]

She was in luck, as the fearsome monster was frozen in place.

"Now's the time, attack!"

The mages quickly released various offensive spells—fire, frost, acid, lightning, casting them at the Demon Hunting Spider like they cost nothing.

But under the hard, magically resistant shell, the Demon Hunting Spider barely suffered any damage.

"Damn, it's tough!"

"Not working, we need to pull a meat shield!"

Charlotte used Misty Step to teleport in front of Lonely as Snow, reaching out to touch his body that had turned into stone.

[Petrification Removal]

The stone on Lonely as Snow's body gradually receded, with his face returning to normal first.

He gasped for air and cursed, "That Demon Hunting Spider is disgusting, I didn't even see it coming..."

But Charlotte was quick to instruct, "I need a favor, Lonely as Snow, can you block that spider monster that's about to break free for us?"

She waved her wand, and Lonely as Snow, still partly stone, was lifted into the air and crashed down right in front of the Demon Hunting Spider.

"Damn it..."

Lonely as Snow looked at the violently struggling Demon Hunting Spider, his mouth twitching.

Was he doomed to be a meat shield once again?

Aside from the Demon Hunting Spider in front of them, Lonely as Snow, Charlotte, and the others looked into the distance to see Abyssal Drakes circling in the sky, Giant Bull Demons striding across the earth, and Bazut Demons roaring as they advanced.

Clearly, they had the misfortune of encountering a major demon offensive.

"Roar—"

Suddenly, a hoarse dragon's roar came from the sky, filling the air with the scent of sand.

"Boom!"

A massive bolt of lightning descended from the sky, directly piercing through the Demon Hunting Spider on the spot.

"Reinforcements have arrived!"

"Holy shit, that's fierce!"

Lonely as Snow looked up to see huge Blue Dragons in the high sky, spreading their wings, and spewing cascades of lightning, casting huge shadows over the ground.

Those were the Blue Dragons of the Faria family!

The female Blue Dragon leading the pack, slightly more slender in form, breathed out lightning that was no less formidable. The bolt that had just pierced through the Demon Hunting Spider was her doing.

—This Blue Dragon was none other than Christina, the emissary sent by the Faria family.